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Council adopts small-business infomercial program to produce free videos for local shops
Summary
Council approved a policy to formalize a pilot small-business infomercial program offering city-produced videos at no cost; the program will accept applications for up to 24 businesses a year, selected by a mixed committee including council, planning and local business representatives.
The City Council on Aug. 5 adopted a Small Business Infomercial Program policy (Resolution 7134) designed to expand a pilot that produced promotional videos for local businesses.
Community & Economic Development staff said the program will accept applications during a 60-day open window, will produce two videos per month (24 businesses per year), and will prioritize in-city businesses with a valid Los Banos business license and compliance with local regulations. A selection committee will include a city council member, a planning commissioner, representatives from the Las Banos Downtown Association and the Las Banos Chamber, and a city staff member. Scoring will use eight weighted criteria, including community impact, marketing value and local ownership.
Several business owners testified in support, describing measurable benefits: Veronica Santana of Mid Valley Truck School said social-media engagement "boomed" after participation; Daniel Herrera, owner of Eric Coffee, said the infomercial helped produce his second-best month. Council amended the policy to add the word "ordinances" to compliance language and then voted to adopt the resolution.
Staff described capacity and budget constraints as the primary reason for limiting production to 24 businesses annually and said businesses that previously received an infomercial will not be eligible to reapply immediately.
